Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Claysaba Excellent, Without a doubt!!

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

angelcasillas-41130 This movie tells a story that often many Americans do not recall. When we think of camps, we usually think about how Americans were heroes who liberated Nazi camps during the second World War. However, this story lets you observe the many aspects of Japanese internment and how many American citizens were imprisoned by the way that they looked rather than for having committed a crime. I find the first half an hour or so unnecessary. You are introduced to a Japanese family and their business, and Dennis Quaid's character. His character is actually pretty unnecessary in the movie. He does not really contribute anything to the plot besides being married to a japanese girl. Of course, this was rather odd at the time since the Japanese were considered the enemy, but that is pretty much it in my opinion. The movie could have retold the exact same story and saved us about 45 minutes in telling us about Japanese internment without the use of his character. THis is not to say the movie is bad, but it is pretty long for no reason other than to include an american that you are supposed to be inclined into liking.

lmucha-44574 Yes, the American supreme court made a grave error in judgement when they ruled that the internment of Japanese Americans was legal under the U.S. Constitution. However, this film, Come See the Paradise, is (see apt title of this review) trash. While this film makes an obvious effort to highlight the widespread prejudice and violence against Japanese Americans in the mid-twentieth century, it relies on racial stereotypes and a pathetic love story. As a character, Jack/Dennis Quaid (one of the few white actors in the film) is completely unnecessary to the storyline, and makes leaves the impression that the story is only significant because it affects the life of a good ol' American boy. There is great potential in the concept of this film, but would need a new director/script/plotline and much less Dennis Quaid.

Hecate-3 The unconstitutional internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2 is one of those little-known tragedies of history. I had never heard of it until I chanced upon this movie. And although it's not as great a tragedy, I consider it to be another one that this movie is also so little-known.But this is not a documentary, and although you might learn something, this movie should be appreciated as a work of art. Of course if you're looking for a feel-good, popcorn flick, you should probably look elsewhere, but when you're in the mood for a serious, dramatic work, come back to this one and bring a box of tissues.The movie follows the lives of the Kawamura family. The parents relocated from Japan and settled into a thriving Japanese community in California known as Little Tokyo where their children were born. Their family, home, business, and friends are all there.Meanwhile in Boston, Irish-American Jack McGurn has been caught up in some illegal union activities. Disillusioned by his cohorts' lack of principles and fearing arrest, Jack flees the city to stay with his brother until he can sort out his life. He finds a temporary job working as the projectionist in the movie house run by Mr. Kawamura. Jack learns Japanese songs from the movies, befriends his employer's son, and falls hard for his employer's oldest daughter Lily, played by a luminescent Tamlyn Tomita. Jack's and Lily's love story is interwoven with the rest of her family's experiences in the internment camps. Jack, who found it hard to turn his back on the plight of the common working man even for the sake of peace in his family, is later forced to leave his wife and child to endure the camps while he is drafted into the army to fight against the countrymen of his in-laws, people he has come to love and respect.There is some violence in this movie, but it is neither incessant nor gratuitous. There is also some strong language and sexual content, but that too is neither incessant nor gratuitous. There are also some heart-wrenching moments, and some moments that will make you question what it means to belong to a country and to love a country as your own. I would recommend that parents and teachers screen this movie for themselves before showing it to any minors.But it is the love that holds the movie together. It is the love that makes the painful moments hurt so much, but that same love makes those moments endurable. Jack and the Kawamuras are flawed human beings making mistakes as they try to make their way through the world, but they are decent, caring people trying to do the right thing, and they love each other. It is easy to root for these people, to hurt with them when things go wrong, and to feel joy in their triumphs. The occasional moments of humor help lighten the mood.The costumes and production design are so well done it's easy to forget that this is a modern movie and that it wasn't filmed in the age it depicts. The script is top-shelf, and the entire cast is uniformly excellent. Dennis Quaid succeeds in making Jack simultaneously bullheaded but capable of great sensitivity, and he keeps his character human and relatable. Tamlyn Tomita gives an award-worthy performance of the calibre that even if she had never done anything else in film or television, she should be counted a success as an actress. It's all but impossible to avoid falling for her Lily right along with Jack. She might be better-dressed and look more glamorous in other works, but this must be the work she prefers to be known for.I highly recommend this movie to anyone capable of appreciating dramatic works, anyone with an interest in history, or anyone who enjoys watching a talented cast work together to produce one of those once-in-a-lifetime films. If I could only pack a shoebox's worth of movies to watch for the rest of my life, this would be one of them.Come See the Paradise. I think you'll be glad you did.

grantss Good, but could have been great. Details one of the shadier acts in US history - the internment of Japanese-Americans in camps during World War 2. Quite moving. You share in the injustice of the situation.However, pacing is uneven. Spends much time building up this event (not overly so, though) but then speeds up towards the end, skipping some details and diluting the effect. A more powerful movie would have concentrated more on the internment camps. A bit too schmaltzy too.Good performances all round.